Now I'm getting confused!!!

[steinbrook4]

So I've been reading forum posts and various other material on starting my 30 gallon tank for a couple of months now and know pretty much what I'd like to do. Just when I thought I started to get things figured out I came across sump ideas and DIY options etc. Do I really need this ?? I'm starting to think I need someone to kick me back to the basics!!! I'm planning on 50 pounds of live rock with 2" of base sand to get my cycle started, once complete on to the fish!! I've ordered a skimmer Designed for Pumps from 400 - 650 gph. For aquariums up to 150 US gallons. I have my heaters and have upgraded my lighting a bit to a marine-glo bulb Actinic 15w at over 18000K, it also has a LUX measurment @35 ..not really sure what that means but It has a nice blue hue to it and at 18000k I'm hoping it will help my new rock strive once I'm past the cycle. One or two power heads and I should be good to go ...or so I think. Anyway I'm just trying to figure out if the live rock and skimmer with the powerheads for movement will be sufficiant or should I consider the sump/refugium option??? Any opinions or ideas on where I'm at equipment wise and what I may want to add would much appreciated!!!!

[steinbrook4]

Oh....by the way I have no intension of adding any coral of any kind at the moment, only want what is on the rock to strive!!!

[traip93]

If your tank is not already set up I would reccomend making it reef ready (internal overfloor, drilled)

YOu may not understand or want a sump now, but once you get up and going you will want one and external overflow boxes are very unpractical, load and can make you lose sleep at night.

Sump are basically and area to keep equipment (heaters, pump/skimmer, probes etc). A sump also allows you to add additional water volume to your system and maybe even a refugium. I have a 48" sump and it's full of equipment and such.

[dustin]

"upgraded my lighting a bit to a marine-glo bulb Actinic 15w at over 18000K"

First thing you need to do is get better lighting. This is way to low to even support corraline on the rocks. I did a 29 for years and didnt have a sump and was just fine. I had JBJ 55watt power compacts and a crappy hangon skimmer that I modified a bit, and I was able to keep mushrooms and zoos and such, and a couple of small reef fish without any problems. But at 15 watts your going to be hurting. It would be fine for a week or so but Id do what you have to and get some PC's on the tank.

Good Luck,
Dustin

[JennM]

Beg to differ. A Marine Glo will support coralline, I've done it many times. It won't support coral though. If the poster intends to keep corals and upgrade the lighting at a later date, the Marine Glo will do for now.

IMO a 30 does not need a sump - if you're going to go that trouble and expense, get a larger tank to begin with. Otherwise, a good hang on skimmer and good water movement is all that is needed.

JMHO...

Jenn

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by JennM

...IMO a 30 does not need a sump - if you're going to go that trouble and expense, get a larger tank to begin with. Otherwise, a good hang on skimmer and good water movement is all that is needed...

I agree with Jenn, especially when setting up a new tank. Rather than go through all the trouble to set up the sump, just drop another 50 to 75 bux and move everything over to a 65 or so, then use the 30 for a sump or for an isolation system or refugium.

For someone with an established tank, the use of a Rubbermaid sump with a submersible pump is an easy way to increase Total Water Volume, which will make it easier to maintain consistant water parameters. A larger TWV will make maintaining calcium and alk levels easier, as well as making temp and salinity variations smaller with simple automation for top-off, etc. If you have an old established system that you don't want to tear down, add a cheapo sump, but if this is a new system, getting a larger tank now will just avoild the unavoidable and make your startup much easier from day one.

hth

[Cosine]

You're only getting confused now!

Well it will all become more unclear the more you learn!

Well I agree with others
I set up my 30g 1 year ago and now I'm upgrading to a 90ish gallon. So I'd say if you have the room now go bigger.
well good luck
setting up is fun
when you think you know all you need to in order to set up read some more. I made some dumb mistakes that just cost me down the road.

[jdbassin]

IMO If your gonna go with a sand bed at all go with 4 or so inches, A 2" sand bed wond do much to help process mitrates and such out of you tank, So it'll mostly just be a detritus trap.


jd

[steinbrook4]

Thanks for the posts!!